Mold Services

Mold Inspection

Mold inspections should include an outline of the steps necessary to do remediation, or if professional remediation is even necessary. When mold can be seen, an inspection by a professional can often determine what other areas are affected and can provide an estimate for fixing the problem.

In instances where mold cannot be seen on the outside of walls, an aggressive inspection, which requires removal of baseboards and in some instances cutting into drywall, may be able to determine if mold is growing behind the wall. Aggressive inspections are $250 and includes us covering up any holes we have to cut out with 6 mil plastic, the same strength as what we use in our containment setups.

Mold Testing

The most reliable way to determine the presence of mold and scope of damage is mold testing. This is where surface or air samples are taken from the suspected rooms and sent to a lab for analysis. Florida law regulates that mold testing must be performed by an independent hygienist for all insurance, real estate or any other legal transaction involving the property. The lab results will tell you what type(s) of mold are present and the spore count of each type. Lab analysis is the only way to determine what type of mold is growing.

The cost associated with testing usually starts at $125 per sample, with a minimum of three samples being required. When getting a mold test done, it’s in your best interest to ask for a protocol, which details the process for eliminating the mold and passing a clearance test, adding protection for you and your insurance carrier.

Mold Mitigation

Mold mitigation is something provided exclusively by Mammoth. It prevents further damage to the property, and more importantly your health, while waiting on insurance coverage, protocols or anything else that might hold up a full mold remediation being done. It’s also the most cost effective way to prevent mold from spreading to unaffected areas, including your lungs.

Mold Removal

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when a full mold remediation is required. Before mold removal can begin, the air conditioning must be shut off and two containment areas set up – primary containment for the affected areas and secondary containment so the crew can bag debris and remove all personal protective equipment used while removing mold. Without the containment areas, mold spores that are disturbed and become airborne during demolition can be spread to other areas that have not been affected.

Once all materials that cannot be salvaged have been removed, the entire space must be cleaned with chemicals and equipment that meet or exceed EPA regulations for the removal of toxic materials. The equipment required for removing mold includes dehumidifiers, air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums.

Because of the precautions that need to be taken, training for certified technicians and specialty equipment, the cost associated with mold removal is surprising to most people but is necessary in order for the job to be done right.

The best solution to mold is to simply not have it. If you have or suspect any kind of water leak or moisture damage, call a professional. Mitigating water damage is a lot less expensive and less stressful than removing mold.

Case Studies

Scenario: Mold was growing behind the couch in the living room, starting about two feet above the floor and extending about a foot up and four feet across. It was noticed for the first time about a year and ago, and during that time, two plumber, a leak detection company and an engineer had inspected the area and had not been able to find the source.

Result: Nate, the owner of Mammoth, made two trips on back to back days to inspect. He noticed that the bottom two feet of the wall were concrete. The wall with growth was adjacent to the spare bathroom, that was raised on a two foot concrete foundation. He drilled a hole into the concrete under the bathroom and discovered that the shower pan had failed and water was pooling into a cavity that was a result of improperly poured concrete, then spilling over to the adjacent wall.

Four other professionals + one year = No source found. Nate + 2 days = Source was identified.